The Sharingan's Voice

Chapter 8.2 (observe)

Itachi sighed tiredly, they were in a hide out close to Konoha, which they would use as a base to observe their target again. That was at least the official idea. Itachi felt lucky to have his brother so close by. He could go observe his progress, his situation before making a move.

Kisame and he both agreed that kidnapping someone from within a hidden village was out of question. They were observing their target so they could formulate a plan, but the Uchiha had had no hurry with that. He didn't know how much Kisame suspected, but Kisame had dropped a few hints indicating that he did.

They were sitting at a distance, having followed Naruto to a bridge. To avoid an easy detection they had traded the Akatsuki cloaks for plain ones, wearing their hats.

Naruto was obviously early, and they witnessed how he seemed to do a balance exercise on the railing. He was quiet and focussed. He got up to greet a pink haired kunoichi though, when she approached.

"Good Morning Sakura-chan! Where is Tatakai? Isn't he participating too today?" The voice was faded by the distance, but they could still hear the words quite clearly. Sakura-chan however wasn't as loud and they had a harder time to make out her answer.

From what they could gather, this Tatakai had gone off to the Hokage Monument after a fight, and Sai (that Sai?) went to find and talk to him this morning.

"I hope they'll show up soon. Kakashi's surely going to take his sweet time. I need a distraction."

"Then use the time to practice"

"That's what i was doing before you came."

"Well don't bother me, I'm not your entertainment." The conversation ceased and they waited. Naruto indeed started up another exercise while Sakura merely stared off into the waters of the creek, leaning against the railing of the bridge. Then, after a while, Naruto looked up, anticipation in his posture. Surely enough a moment later, two new arrivals crossed the field next to the bridge, their backs towards them.

"The one on the right is the one we met at the inn." Kisame said quietly. Itachi barely nodded, still listening.

"Sai, you are back! How was the mission?"

"Obviously Dickless..." Indeed Itachi recognized the voice as the one of that man. "and it was alright, I suppose. Thanks for asking. I gotta go though, I need to go talk to Shikamaru, I might join you later."

Naruto said goodbye, a bit put out, then turned to the second person opening the conversation with an insult.

"Teme"

"Dobe" This voice was unfamiliar, he still hoped though. His brothers voice would have changed and one word wasn't enough to judge by intonation.

"Up for a spar?" Naruto now asked. Instead of replying the other moved. The blade was evaded the last second, the swishing sound of cutting air still sharp over the distance.

"He looks like you!" Kisame quietly mused. "Dark hair, bangs. Same black eyes and straight nose. Could really be your brother."

"Hn"

"He's grown taller..."

00000

Naruto had already noticed that something was different about this fight. It was more serious, even though the unspoken line of not using Chakra just yet, wasn't crossed. This spar had a different dynamic than the one yesterday, there was an underlying danger, a challenge and Naruto liked it. They exchanged blows, blocked hits, kicks, evaded blades. The dance was close to deadly.